Joanne Sudman, left, and Paula Lickfeldt go over plans for Feb. 21’s “A Day of Cabaret,” an event to raise money to fill four local food pantries. Penny Fletcher photos.
Those who lived along the Little Manatee River 20 years ago may still remember when the old “Cabaret” was demolished. In the years prior to that, anyone boating down the river in the area of Shell Point Road could hear the music for miles. Often, they’d be singing the Liza Minelli version of the song “Cabaret” that started:
What good is sitting alone in your room?
Come hear the music play
Life is a cabaret, old chum
Come to the cabaret ~
Well, the time has come when you can go to the Cabaret again — for one day, anyway.
On Sunday, Feb. 21, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Sun City Center Community Hall, 1910 S. Pebble Beach Blvd., there will be a line up of local performers of every type.
But this cabaret isn’t only about performing. It’s also about making money to fill area food pantries that often get lots of donations for the holidays — and then run completely out.
Three members of the clergy — Rabbi Carla Freedman of Beth Israel Synagogue, Pastor Tim Shirley of the United Community Church and the Rev. Mark Salmon of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church — went on a mission to find other churches to help and ended up with eight Sun City Center houses of worship involved.
“We’re donating 100 percent of the net profits to four local food pantries: Angel’s Attic, the Lord’s Lighthouse, Beth-El Food Pantry, and the pantry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church,” said Joanne Sudman, one of the two women organizing the event. “The clergy’s goal was to involve all the Sun City Center churches, and they did it.”
According to Paula Lickfeldt, the three clergymen had formed a friendship over other community projects and are always ready to work on important issues.
“Hunger is a big thing in our area, and a lot of people don’t recognize that,” Lickfeldt said.
Jackie Hanson, award-winning photographer, has donated several photographs to be raffled.
Doors will open at 1 p.m. for a raffle of prize-winning photography donated by Jackie Hanson.
Hanson has even donated her Best in Show photograph, Painting with Light, Lido Beach, which was among the winners of the SCC Photo Club’s Best of the Best competition, Lickfeldt said.
“Instead of merchants to sponsor us, we’ve gone to the clubs and gotten other things to raffle off as well,” she added.
People who would like to view some of Hanson’s work in advance of the event can see it at the SCC Chamber of Commerce.
The show will consist of 13 acts with local talent, ranging from a comedy act to magic, a barbershop quartet, two dance groups, and will feature music from the Front Porch Pickers. Also performing will be Gary Garbleman, once half of a duo with Kelly Emerson, the former SCC head of maintenance now recording in Nashville.
Of course, no cabaret would be complete without George Burns and Gracie Allen, so Ed Brown and Jeanne Naish — both experienced actors — will take those parts.
Tickets will be available starting Feb. 1 until the day of the show; $10 per person in advance, $12 at the door. Tickets can be bought at the SCC Atrium kiosk and at the following houses of worship: Beth Israel; St. Andrew; United Community; United Methodist; Redeemer Lutheran; Prince of Peace Catholic; Unitarian Universalist; and St. John the Divine Episcopal.
This event is open to the public.
